Storms close Camp
Eberhart
Damage at YMCA property estimated at
$50,000.
MELISSA JACKSON
Tribune Staff Writer
Campers should have
been arriving for a weekend of Labor Day recreation on
the shores of Corey Lake on Friday.
Instead workers were busy at the temporarily closed Camp
Eberhart cleaning up damage from a pair of storms that
swept through the Three Rivers area in the past week.
Brice Emanuel, the camp's executive director, estimates
the Aug. 23 storm, with wind speeds recorded at about 70
mph, coupled with Wednesday's storm, where 58 mph winds
swept through the area, knocked down about 200 trees on
the property along with several utility poles.
|
Photo provided
Two recent storms toppled more than 200 trees at Camp Eberhart in Three Rivers. Campers were on the property both times but no one was injured and camp officials do not believe any buildings sustained significant structural damage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
While campers were on-site both times, including
students from Stanley Clark School in South Bend on
Wednesday, no one was injured, Emanuel said.
He does not believe any structures were seriously
damaged, although a few buildings have trees resting on
them. Also, the camp
was without power for five out of the last seven days,
he said, and at least a dozen AEP crews were working on
the property on Wednesday.
His greatest concern right now is clearing away the
trees, including broken trunks and branches that are
still suspended in the trees and pose a threat to people
on the ground.
"We had to cancel all programs for this coming weekend,"
Emanuel said. "Our Labor Day Family Camp weekend had
people flying in from Europe. We tried to notify them.
With 200 people expected, there's just no way. It's
always safety first.
"My staff and I have been working ... for the last four
days to clean up the damage from last Thursday," he
said. "Now every place we've cleared up has got more
damage."
He hopes to have the camp opened up again by Tuesday.
In his 30 years working at camps, including 16 at Camp
Eberhart, Emanuel said he has never seen storm damage
this extensive. He places the total cost for tree
cleanup, road repair, food lost because of the loss of
electricity, and loss of revenue from shutting down camp
at $50,000.
The YMCA of Michiana is asking for "Adopt a Tree"
donations of $100 or more. Those can be sent to: YMCA of
Michiana, Adopt a Tree, 1201 Northside Blvd., South
Bend, IN 46615.
Also, according to the camp's Web site, the Alumni
Association wants to buy generators that would be wired
to all the camp's wells and lift pumps and also one
large enough to keep Klinger Hall's freezers,
refrigerators, heat, water and sewer running. The
association is seeking donations as well. Contributions
can be sent the Camp Eberhart Alumni Association Inc.,
316 S. Eddy St., South Bend, IN 46617.
Staff writer Melissa Jackson:
mjackson@sbtinfo.com
(269) 687-7003
|